Behold a Pale Horse (book)
 Front cover of the book | |
| Author | Milton William Cooper |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Conspiracy theories, government secrets, Illuminati, UFOs |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Light Technology Publishing |
Publication date | December 1, 1991 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Pages | 470 |
| ISBN | 978-0929385228 ISBN-10: 0929385225 |
Behold a Pale Horse is a non-fiction book written by Milton William Cooper, published in 1991. The book is known for its impact on UFO and militia circles and is considered a seminal work in conspiracy theory literature.[1]
Background[edit | edit source]
Milton William Cooper, a former United States Naval Intelligence Briefing Team member, wrote the book to share what he claimed were suppressed truths hidden in top-secret government files. According to Cooper, this information had been classified since the 1940s. The book discusses topics such as the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the war on drugs, secret government activities, UFOs, and the Illuminati.[2] Cooper claimed his predictions, including the lowering of the Iron Curtain, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the invasion of Panama, were based on plans he encountered during his time in naval intelligence and over 17 years of research.[3]
The book’s original edition included the infamous hoax Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which Cooper later removed in revised editions upon learning it was a forgery.[4]
Contents[edit | edit source]
Behold a Pale Horse is divided into multiple chapters, each addressing a different aspect of Cooper's conspiracy theories. Key topics include:
The Illuminati and the New World Order Alleged government UFO cover-ups Secret technologies and suppressed advancements Political assassinations, including that of John F. Kennedy The war on drugs as a government control mechanism The book includes reprints of what Cooper claimed were official documents, such as executive orders, military reports, and other materials, which he used to substantiate his claims.
Reception and Legacy[edit | edit source]
Behold a Pale Horse has been both widely influential and highly controversial. Just prior to the trial of Terry Nichols in 1997, The Guardian described it as "the manifesto of the militia movement".[5]
Political scientist Michael Barkun characterized it as "among the most complex superconspiracy theories" and credited its widespread popularity in militia circles and mainstream bookstores for its influence.[6] Sociologist Paul Gilroy noted Cooper's claim of an "elaborate conspiracy theory" linking the Kennedy assassination, secret world government activities, and covert Illuminati schemes.[2]
Historian Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke criticized the book as a "chaotic farrago of conspiracy myths" filled with extraneous material, such as reprints of government documents, intended to depict the alleged imposition of a world government on the American people in violation of the Constitution.[7]
Despite the criticism, the book remains a cornerstone in conspiracy literature and has had a lasting influence on various communities, including UFO enthusiasts, militia groups, and conspiracy theorists.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Nattrass, Nicoli (2012). The AIDS Conspiracy: Science Fights Back. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 4, 23–27. ISBN 978-0231149129. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Gilroy, Paul (2000). "Planetary Humanism". Against Race: Imagining Political Culture Beyond the Color Line. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. pp. 352–353. ISBN 978-0674000964. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
- ↑ "Behold a Pale Horse". Amazon. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ↑ "Behold a Pale Horse". Amazon. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ↑ Vulliamy, Ed; Dirks, Bruce (November 3, 1997). "New trial may solve riddle of Oklahoma bombing". The Guardian. London. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
- ↑ Michael Barkun (2006). A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America. University of California Press. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-520-24812-0. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
- ↑ Goodrick-Clarke, Nicholas (2002). "Conspiracy Beliefs and the New World Order". Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identity. New York: New York University Press. pp. 284–285. ISBN 978-0814731550. Retrieved January 17, 2013.